Image source, Getty Images
Mirza is one of the biggest sports stars in India
Former Wimbledon doubles champion Sania Mirza, one of India’s most famous sports stars, has announced her retirement from tennis after 2022.
Mirza’s comments came after he lost in the first round of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open.
“I have decided that this is my last season. I’ve been going to that end every week. I’m not sure if it can even last this season. But I like this,” he told reporters.
She won the women’s doubles title with China’s Zhang Shuai at the Ostrava Open last September. I have to take note of this. I think my body is getting tired, “he said.
Mirza, 35, became the first Indian to win the WTA singles title in 2005.
But due to injury he was soon forced to focus only on doubles matches. In 2015 he won at Wimbledon with Swiss Martina Hingis, and later won the US and Australian Open.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, when he and Rohan Bopanna played in the semifinals against Venus Williams and Rajiv Ram, he went too close to win an Olympic medal and eventually lost.
Image source, Getty Images
Mirza and Martina Hingis win Wimbledon doubles title in 2015
Sania won two Grand Slam titles with Mahesh Bhupathi at the 2009 Australian Open mixed doubles title and the French Open 2012 mixed doubles title.
During her summer vacation, Sania Mirza started playing tennis as a teenager. But winning the tournament was only possible after she began competing in the women’s event – winning her first title at the 2002 Asian Games at the age of 15.
She entered the women’s tennis tour in 2003 and has since been ranked 27th in the world singles rankings, the highest ever by an Indian player.
Image source, Sania Mirza Instagram
Mirza has received much attention for his career outside of tennis, including his marriage to former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik. The couple has a three-year-old son.
In 2019, she returned to play tennis after a two-year maternity break. With nearly 25 million followers on her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, Mirza has maintained her name as one of the best sports women in India.
Sania is proud to have encouraged young women to play tennis in a country where cricket is popular. Some have trolled him on social media on a number of issues, from the clothes he chooses to wear to the choice of his partner. Yet, her brave performance made headlines when Sania reacted to them with her harsh responses.
